Family Centre

Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 1 Family Centre Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential family centre

The family centre is privately owned and is registered to provide accommodation for up to two families at one time.

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Information about this residential family centre

There was one family living at the centre at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this residential family centre

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and parents, taking into account requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and parents are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The residential family centre is not yet delivering good assessments, help and care for children and parents. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of previous inspection: not previously inspected Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 2

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improvement to be good

This is the residential family centre’s first inspection. One family has been resident at the centre since January 2025. The assessment and monitoring period has been extended due to legal reasons. The family has settled well and built positive relationships with staff. There is good communication between the staff and parent who has grown in confidence and increased their parenting skills. For example, they have gained insight into children’s life experiences and how this can impact on their behaviour.

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improvement to be good

The manager arranges school and nursery places for children in a timely way. This ensures that children have formal learning opportunities and time to socialise with other children. Children have good routines, see family and attend health appointments when necessary. As such, children are in good health and developing well.

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improvement to be good

The family is supported to take part in activities at weekends. There are times during the week when opportunities are reduced due to low staffing ratios. This limits the family’s access to activities, play groups or clubs offered to children after school. Low staff ratios also restrict the capacity for staff to respond to unexpected situations. These issues are particularly relevant to families with several children when there are competing needs. This was recognised by the manager at the start of the assessment however approaches made to the local authority to increase staffing ratios were not effective.

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improvement to be good

The centre has completed one parenting assessment. This was undertaken in a compressed period due to external factors. Despite making several requests the manager did not obtain a letter of instruction from the local authority to inform the assessment. Information provided in the referral form, in relation to the terms of the issues to be assessed, was basic. Managers did not obtain more detailed information from the local authority. A meeting was not undertaken at the midway point to review progress. Records of the social worker’s assessment sessions have not included oversight from the manager. As such, he has not assured himself that all evidence gathered is reflected in the final report. The records are currently not available for consideration by professionals who may wish to view them. This has the potential to impact on court proceedings.

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improvement to be good

The manager has not ensured that the resident family is being prepared effectively for the end of the assessment and monitoring period. There is little evidence of planning between the centre and the local authority about what will happen when the family moves out and the ongoing support that will be provided. This is particularly relevant due to distance from the centre. Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 3

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improvement to be good

The family has been kept safe from harm while living at the family centre. The parent has trusted relationships with staff. They feel safe at the centre and have confidence in the staff to provide safe care for their children when required. There have been no significant incidents, allegations of harm against staff or complaints.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff understand the risks posed to the family. However, risk management plans for the parent and child are not well considered or regularly updated with new information. Content regarding the nature of risks is brief and does not contain detailed information about measures in place to mitigate them. This has the potential for confusion and inconsistent practice amongst the team, especially when new staff join.

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improvement to be good

Staff support the family during times where children have become upset. One child required considerable help on these occasions. These situations seldom escalate; however, it is unclear which approach the staff are using when supporting children with their behaviour. There is little evidence of reflecting with the parent following incidents which have been distressing. This is a missed opportunity to assess how the parent is feeling when under stress; an issue which is pertinent to the assessment.

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improvement to be good

The children have been cared for by staff when their parent has been away from the family centre overnight. The manager carried out some safety planning for this event. However, there is no agreed risk management plan in place between the family centre, local authority and parent for these situations. This could lead to misunderstandings of how children’s care is to be carried out and potentially leave them at increased risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

The manager has not ensured that required checks have been satisfactorily undertaken before employing staff to work at the family centre. References for one member of staff had not been received before they started work. This has the potential for vulnerable families to be in contact with unsuitable people.

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good

The manager is in his first year of establishing the family centre. He is still working on how to fulfil his management responsibilities efficiently. The manager is yet to establish an effective team structure which enables him to focus on management tasks. The responsible individuals who have oversight of the family centre have not provided the manager with adequate formal supervision. This is important for his accountability, learning and development as a new manager. Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 4 The manager has recruited a staff team who have remained largely consistent since registration. They enjoy working at the family centre and say they are well supported. Staff benefit from regular training, and they receive supervision. Supervision discussions are not reflective which limits their ability to develop professionally and consider their work in any depth.

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good

One member of staff has not always met the required standards of practice. The manager took action to address this before the family was affected. This demonstrates a commitment to maintaining safe practice.

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good

The manager has a positive relationship with the family and has supported the parent to make a complaint regarding the conduct of an external professional. However, there are some areas of practice which have gone unchallenged and are having a negative effect on communication between the professional and the family centre.

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good

The responsible individual has not undertaken all monthly visits to the family centre. The registered manager has completed two of these. This is inappropriate as he is not able to provide an independent view of the conduct of the family centre. The content of some reports does not include important information about the family, and they are not submitted to Ofsted in a timely way. This impedes the regulator’s ability to understand what is happening in the family centre and act if needed. Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. The registered person must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider and the registered manager shall, having regard to the size of the residential family centre, the statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the residents, carry on or manage the centre (as the case may be) with sufficient care, competence and skill. (Regulation 8 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the structure of the team enables the manager to fulfil his role effectively. This also relates to ensuring that the registered manager has regular supervision and staff have reflective discussions in their supervision. This also relates to ensuring that the manager challenges professionals adequately when practice is not in the best interests of families. This includes obtaining important documents such as letters of instruction. 3 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall prepare and implement a written child protection policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the residential family centre from abuse or neglect. (Regulation 12 (a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk management plans pertaining to children and adults contain sufficient detail about nature of risk and measures in place to mitigate those risks. 3 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that conclusions or recommendations are made as a result of the assessment or monitoring and that—

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Requirement Due date

such conclusions or recommendations are objective and based on verifiable evidence; and 3 September 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 6 the evidence on which they are based is capable of being presented in a manner that is clear, accessible and appropriate to the persons who will need to consider them. (Regulation 13A (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager has sufficient oversight of records of assessment sessions so that the evidence gathered is reflected in the assessment report. This also relates to ensuring that those records are accessible for consideration and/or scrutiny.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person shall ensure that there is, having regard to—

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Requirement Due date

the statement of purpose of the residential family centre, its size and the numbers and needs of its residents; and

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Requirement Due date

the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of residents,

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Requirement Due date

a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working for the residential family centre. (Regulation 15 (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is a sufficient number of staff in the centre each day to support families so that they have full opportunities to engage with activities outside of the centre. It also relates to staff being able to respond to all eventualities and have regular breaks. 3 September 2025

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Requirement Due date

employ a person to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre;

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Requirement Due date

allow a person to whom paragraph (2) applies, to work at the residential family centre unless that person is fit to work at a residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

This paragraph applies to any person who is employed by a person other than the registered person in a position in which he may in the course of his duties have regular contact with residents.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a residential family centre unless— 3 September 2025 Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 7 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. (Regulation 16 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all checks stated in Schedule 2 are completed and satisfactory before employing staff to work at the centre.

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Requirement Due date

Where the registered provider is an organisation or a partnership, the residential family centre shall be visited in accordance with this regulation by—

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Requirement Due date

the responsible individual or one of the partners, as the case may be;

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Requirement Due date

an employee of the organisation or partnership who is not directly concerned with the conduct of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

Visits under paragraph (1) or (2) shall take place at least once a month and may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The person carrying out the visit shall—

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Requirement Due date

prepare a written report on the conduct of the residential family centre.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to be made under paragraph (4)(c) to—

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Requirement Due date

the [Chief Inspector]. (Regulation 25 (2)(a)(c) (3) (4)(c) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that visits are undertaken each month by a person listed within the regulation and their reports reflect the activity at the centre and submitted to Ofsted in a timely way. 3 September 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the centre has and implements clear procedures for families leaving the centre which covers planned and emergency departures and takes into account the needs of the parent whilst giving paramount importance to the safety of the child. (Residential Family Centre National Minimum Standards, page 14, paragraph 7.7) Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 8  The registered person should ensure that staff liaise with the placing agency when parents and children are due to leave so that appropriate follow-up and resettlement support may be arranged, whether or not the children remain in their parents' care when they leave the centre. This includes ensuring that there is a plan for any work required in the community not undertaken by the centre to be completed. (Residential Family Centre National Minimum Standards, page 14, paragraph 7.8)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are equipped with the skills and experience required to meet the needs of the parents and their children. This includes having clear strategies and/or approaches in place to support children with their behaviour. (Residential Family Centre National Minimum Standards, page 25, paragraph 16.1)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and parents using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 9

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Residential family centre details

Responsible individual: Cynthia O’Connor

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Inspectors

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Lauren Barwell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential family centre: Nurture Haven Family Centre 1 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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